Combination steam chamber



July 31, 192&

S. C. MARKATOS COMBINATION STEAM CHAMBER Original Filed June 12. 1925 gwue ntoz 51 0705 6? MAR/114 7'0 (hung Patented July 31, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICEQ SPIROS G. MAR KATOS, OFNEW YORK N.

COMBINATION STEAM CHAMBER.

Original application filed June 12, 1923, Serial 0. 644,980. Divided and this application filed October 21, 1925. Serial No. 64,052.

This invention appertains to a novel hat steaming apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in bat cleaning and blocking establishments, and more partlcularly to the type illustrated in my former Patent The primary object of the invention is to provide a hat cleaning device embodying a steam chamber in which the crown and the brim of the hat can be successfully and expeditiously steamed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat cleaning apparatus embodying a single chamber for steaming both the brim and the crown oft-he hat with a single valve for controlling the steam both to the crown and brim steaming means.- p

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel hat cleaning device including a chamber, having a steam inlet therein, for receiving the crown of the hat, and means arranged laterally of and communicating with the Chamber for steaming the brim of the hat with novel means including a single valve for controlling the flow of steam to the chamber for both the crown and brim steaming means.

A still further object ofthe invention is a to provide a single chamber for steaming both the crown and the brim of a hat, WhlOh Will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and and easy to manufacture and one which can'be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 1mproved hat cleaning apparatus,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the novel hat cleaning chamber showing the cover in its closed position.

Figure3 is a diametric section through the same taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, the chamber being shown in position relative to other parts of the apparatus, and

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the means for holding the cover for the steam chamber in its'clojsed position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter A generally indicates the hat steaming'apparatus, which includes the conventional steam boiler 5 having arranged laterally thereof and slightly above the same the novel steam chamber 6, which forms an important feature of the present invention. The upper end of the steam boiler 5 is provided with an outlet pipe '7 which leads toward the steam chamber 6 and the pipe communicates directly with a valve casing 8 which supports the lower end of the steam chamber 6. The valve casing can be supported by a suitable standard or post 9. The valve casing 8 can be of any preferred type or character andthe same can be of a slide valve type having operatively connected therewith a link 10 secured to a foot pedal 11' carried by the lower end of the standard 9. It can be seen, that upon pressing down upon the foot pedal that the valve can be opened for permitting the flow of steam into the chamber. Located centrally within the chamber 6 is the steam distributing cone 12' into which the steam initially flows from the valve casing. y

The novel hat cleaning chamber (S embodies a cylindrical body or side wall 15 and a lower inverted frusto-conical bottom wall 16 which is provided with an axial opening for fitting upon the valve 8. The upper end of the side wall 15 is preferably provided with a rolled bead 17 and the upper open end of the steam chamber is closed by a cover 18. This cover can be provided at its bottom face with an inwardly projecting annular flange 19 for engaging the inner surface of the side Wall 15 when the cover is in its lowered position for preventing the escape of steam around the cover and the upper edge of the side wall. The cover 18 can be held in place in any desired way, and as shown the same is connected to the wall 15 by a suitable hinge 20. Thehinge 20 is located laterally of the side wall so as to permit the cover 18 to be swung entirely clear of the upper edge of the body when the crown of the hat is being steamed, as will be hereinafter more fully described. In order to hold the cover 18 tightly closed when the chamber is not being used for steaming the crowns of the hats but for steaming the brims thereof as will be also hereinafter more fully described, I provide a cam lever 21 which is pivoted as at 22 to the upper face of the cover adjacent to the edge thereof. The cam lever is provided with a cam hook 223 for engaging the rolled head 17 of the chamber and it is obvious that by swinging the lever down, that the same can be held tightly closed.

\Vhen a crown of a hat is to be steamed, the cam lever 21 is swung over the top of the cover and the cover is opened to its full position. The crown of the hat is placed directly within the chamber with the brim extending outwardly thereof. Steam is now allowed to flow in the chamber by the operation of the valve.

In order to permit the etl'ective steaming of the hatbrim from the same chamber 1 provide a laterally extending brim steaming collar or auxiliary chamber ill which can be formed directly on the chamber 6 or as shown on the cover 18. The cover 18 at a point diametrically to the hinge 20 and adjacent to the edge thereof is provided with an elon'- gated steam outlet opening 25 and a lip 26 extends beyond the cover. The lip 26 and the opening 25 is closed by suitable arcuate flange or wall 27 which forms the said brim steaming collar or auxiliary chamber.

When itis desired to clean the brim of a hat, the cover is moved from its closed position and the brim is placed 'over the collar 24: and steam is permitted to flow into the chamber 6 and thence into the collar through the opening 25. The brim of the hat is moved over the collar until the entire area thereof has been cleaned. It is preferred to have the auxiliary chamber or brim steaming collar 24: oflset from the chamber so as to permit the free manipulation of the handle without danger of the attendant burning himself by coming into contact with the said chamber.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I. have provided novel hat steaming apparatus in which both the crown and brim can be successfully steamed, thereby obviating the necessity of providing independent devices t'or steaming the crown and the brim.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a hat steaming apparatus, a steam chamber for receiving the crown of a hat to be steamed, a cover for closing the chamber after the crown has been steamed, and a laterally projecting brim steaming collar carried by the cover having eoimnimication with the chamber.

2. In a hat steaming apparatus, a steam chamber for receiving the crown of a hat to be steamed, a cover for closing the chamber, the cover having a steam outlet therein adjacent to the edge thereof, a laterally projecting lip formed on the cover and extending beyond the chamber, and a hat brim supporting collar disposed about the steam outlet and the lip.

3. In a hat steaming apparatus, a steam chamber for receiving the crown of a hat to be steamed, a cover for closing the chamber after the crown has been steamed, means hingedly connecting the cover to the chamber to permit the cover to be swung entirely clear of the upper edge of the chamber, means carried by the cover for engaging the chamber to hold the cover in a tightly closed position, and a hat brim supporting collar carried by the cover having communication with the chamber. 7

In testimony whereof'I aflix my signature.

SPIROS C. MARKATOS. 

